PA Moves to Ban Government Union Political Funding

Senate bill would separate political from representational funding

The Pennsylvania state Senate passed a bill that would ban the government transfer of public sector worker dues to political organizations on Wednesday.

The Senate voted 26-23 to pass SB 501 after a short debate. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. John Eichelberger (R.) said the vote was a victory for individuals over political interests.

“This is what the majority of union members want and what the public deserves,” Eichelberger said in a release. “It protects members from being forced through the union to fund political candidates or causes they don’t support.”

The bill became known as Mary’s Law, named after Pennsylvania College of Technology professor Mary Trometter who filed suit to stop her local union from directly financing political causes with which she disagreed. Tormetter complained to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in November after receiving a Pennsylvania State Education Association mailer implying that all teachers supported Democratic candidate Tom Wolf.

“As a family member of an educator, you know they are devoting their career to helping others … Please join Mary in voting for Tom Wolf for Governor on November 4th,” the letter said.

Wolf beat Republican Gov. Tom Corbett by 10 points.

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